www.markupandprofit.com: Some people consider business cards outdated. It's true that they've been around for ages, but they still have value. They are a simple, inexpensive way to provide everyone you come in contact with the information they need to reach you.
7 comments:
In the high-speed world of the 21st century, humans often bypass the details. Business cards, and paper products in general, are a lost art in the world of advertisement. One often overlooks the importance of a piece of paper when there is a website or social media account available. Yet if you are making connection in person, it is much more personable to hand over an originally designed card. I appreciate the comment of “not everyone can specialize in everything” because it is true. Your specialty should not be a list, and a business card should not be a resume. My father still carries around a small metal case to protect his stack of business cards. My mom even has a set in her purse, in case it comes up that someone needs a doctor or knows someone that does. It may seem dated and old-fashioned, but it a simple and effective way to do business.
This is an interesting concept to me, simply because we live in a time where online presence is so much more reaching that in person. I can really only think of a few instance in which you would even have the the opportunity to actually give someone a business card, outside of them coming into your office, or a convention here and there. Now this doesn't by any means invalidate the power a business card can have, but I think that their purpose is much different than it used to be. As someone who is TERRIBLE at keeping business cards, not intentionally, I just can't seem to not lose them, I really heavily on other marketing and presence to help me. However, receiving a business card in the first place does help to stick in my memory that "there was that one person who gave me that blue card" and whatnot which then helps me search for them later.
Business cards are something that I've been thinking a lot more about lately as I get closer to graduating and having to join the professional world. The only time I have ever made a business card was for my professional prep class, and it was really difficult for me to come up with designs that I liked. This is definitely something that I know I'll need to iron out in the next couple of months, as it's something that I'm going to be expected to have. Similarly to Sidney's parents both of my parents still carry around their business cards so they're ready to give them out whenever anyone asks for them. My mom even has a file folder where she keeps all of the business cards she receives, especially from her international clients. One thing that I disagree with in this article is putting your photo on your business card. Yes, it would make me people less likely to throw it away, but I would be afraid of someone judging me for my appearance.
I support this sentiment 100%. I love business cards; they can say so much about you in such a cute tiny package. Aside from them being very helpful and convenient, we need to recognize that there are still many people who do not operate on such a technological wave. I think we have a stifled view at CMU because so many people are creating the technology of tomorrow and and pushing further. But there are still companies that don't have websites, only use landline, and don't want to be pushed to use someone's website to contact them. It is the power similar to a handwritten thank you note, it is timeless. I love the bullet point list at the bottom that gives a list of people to distribute business cards to. Hand them out everywhere! We should be sharing these way more often than just work conferences. I am looking forward to developing my business cards for professional prep next year!
I think business cards are excellent tools to be able to brand yourself and make yourself memorable. I think the hardest part of business cards, and we have talked about this in Professional Prep is that at 22 I am not exactly sure what to call myself, nor do I feel comfortable saying "I am this thing" because I have had very little experience doing it. I am looking forward to opportunities like USITT later this year to use my business cards and see how I can best express myself and say what I want about myself using a very small piece of paper. Sometimes I feel like management is just paper design and being able to use 8 1/2 by 11 to your greatest advantage and help you communicate. Business cards are the best way to quickly give your information to people and I am excited to get moving and get using them.
I think there is some positive and negative aspect to take away from this article. I will agree that business cards are essential for every owner and employee. If you aren’t ready to present that card during any discussion, you immediately come off as unprofessional. I would not, however, say they are dated. Like many things, business cards are adapting with the changing technology. Not only are they cheaper and more accessible to business owners but it is easier than it has ever been to customize your business card. In the future, I am interested to see what the “standard” for a company business card is and how they continue to change. I think that what the author of this article outlines as “normal” to put on a business card has always been up for debate, but I am going to argue that there are only two necessary elements that need to go on a business card: your name and contact info. Everything else is just filling. Overall, I think this article does an excellent job outlining a business card but I wouldn’t treat it aw. A business card is an extension of yourself; embraces that and make it unique to your personality.
The main idea of the business card is establishing a contact between you and the potential customers. But in today's world, people tend to use digital method to keep tracking of their business needs, so maybe we need something more for the old school card that exists in solid presence to make its impact. First of all, we need both forms of digital and paper delivery of our business card. This not only provides a versatile way to deliver your contact information, but also makes it easier to get in touch of wider industry people. Some of industries tend to use paper business card, such as traditional workshops while other industry like web advertising company try to keep their contact in digital database. The idea never changes, just the way we execute it.
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